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did in my case; but that all has happened according to God's
will; who has hereby procured our enjoyment of what good things
we have; and; if he continue in a favorable disposition; of what
we hope for hereafter。 Since; therefore; I know that our father
is safe and well; beyond expectation; and I see you so well
disposed to your brother; I will no longer remember what guilt
you seem to have had about me; but will leave off to hate you for
that your wickedness; and do rather return you my thanks; that
you have concurred with the intentions of God to bring things to
their present state。 I would have you also rather to forget the
same; since that imprudence of yours is come to such a happy
conclusion; than to be uneasy and blush at those your offenses。
Do not; therefore; let your evil intentions; when you condemned
me; and that bitter remorse which might follow; be a grief to you
now; because those intentions were frustrated。 Go; therefore;
your way; rejoicing in what has happened by the Divine
Providence; and inform your father of it; lest he should be spent
with cares for you; and deprive me of the most agreeable part of
my felicity; I mean; lest he should die before he comes into my
sight; and enjoys the good things that we now have。 Bring;
therefore; with you our father; and your wives and children; and
all your kindred; and remove your habitations hither; for it is
not proper that the persons dearest to me should live remote from
me; now my affairs are so prosperous; especially when they must
endure five more years of famine。〃 When Joseph had said this; he
embraced his brethren; who were in tears and sorrow; but the
generous kindness of their brother seemed to leave among them no
room for fear; lest they should be punished on account of what
they had consulted and acted against him; and they were then
feasting。 Now the king; as soon as he heard that Joseph's
brethren were come to him; was exceeding glad of it; as if it had
been a part of his own good fortune; and gave them wagons full of
corn and gold and silver; to be conveyed to his father。 Now when
they had received more of their brother part to be carried to
their father; and part as free gifts to every one of themselves;
Benjamin having still more than the rest; they departed。

CHAPTER 7。

The Removal Of Joseph's Father With All His Family;
To Him; On Account Of The Famine。

1。 As soon as Jacob came to know; by his sons returning home; in
what state Joseph was; that he had not only escaped death; for
which yet he lived all along in mourning; but that he lived in
splendor and happiness; and ruled over Egypt; jointly with the
king; and had intrusted to his care almost all his affairs; he
did not think any thing he was told to be incredible; considering
the greatness of the works of God; and his kindness to him;
although that kindness had; for some late times; been
intermitted; so he immediately and zealously set out upon his
journey to him。

2。 When he came to the Well of the Oath; (Beersheba;) he offered
sacrifice to God; and being afraid that the happiness there was
in Egypt might tempt his posterity to fall in love with it; and
settle in it; and no more think of removing into the land of
Canaan; and possessing it; as God had promised them; as also
being afraid; lest; if this descent into Egypt were made without
the will of God; his family might be destroyed there; out of
fear; withal; lest he should depart this life before he came to
the sight of Joseph; he fell asleep; revolving these doubts in
his mind。

3。 But God stood by him; and called him twice by his name; and
when he asked who he was; God said; 〃No; sure; it is not just
that thou; Jacob; shouldst be unacquainted with that God who has
been ever a protector and a helper to thy forefathers; and after
them to thyself: for when thy father would have deprived thee of
the dominion; I gave it thee; and by my kindness it was that;
when thou wast sent into Mesopotamia all alone; thou obtainedst
good wives; and returnedst with many children; and much wealth。
Thy whole family also has been preserved by my providence; and it
was I who conducted Joseph; thy son; whom thou gavest up for
lost; to the enjoyment of great prosperity。 I also made him lord
of Egypt; so that he differs but little from a king。 Accordingly;
I come now as a guide to thee in this journey; and foretell to
thee; that thou shalt die in the arms of Joseph: and I inform
thee; that thy posterity shall be many ages in authority and
glory; and that I will settle them in the land which I have
promised them。〃

4。 Jacob; encouraged by this dream; went on more cheerfully for
Egypt with his sons; and all belonging to them。 Now they were in
all seventy。 I once; indeed; thought it best not to set down the
names of this family; especially because of their difficult
pronunciation 'by the Greeks'; but; upon the whole; I think it
necessary to mention those names; that I may disprove such as
believe that we came not originally from Mesopotamia; but are
Egyptians。 Now Jacob had twelve sons; of these Joseph was come
thither before。 We will therefore set down the names of Jacob's
children and grandchildren。 Reuben had four sons … Anoch; Phallu;
Assaron; Charmi。 Simeon had six … Jamuel; Jamin; Avod; Jachin;
Soar; Saul。 Levi had three sons … Gersom; Caath; Merari。 Judas
had three sons … Sala; Phares; Zerah; and by Phares two
grandchildren; Esrom and Amar。 Issachar had four sons … Thola;
Phua; Jasob; Samaron。 Zabulon had with him three sons … Sarad;
Helon; Jalel。 So far is the posterity of Lea; with whom went her
daughter Dinah。 These are thirty…three。 Rachel had two sons; the
one of whom; Joseph; had two sons also; Manasses and Ephraim。 The
other; Benjamin; had ten sons … Bolau; Bacchar; Asabel; Geras;
Naaman; Jes; Ros; Momphis; Opphis; Arad。 These fourteen added to
the thirty…three before enumerated; amount to the number
forty…seven。 And this was the legitimate posterity of Jacob。 He
had besides by Bilhah; the handmaid of Rachel; Dan and
Nephtliali; which last had four sons that followed him … Jesel;
Guni; Issari; and Sellim。 Dan had an only begotten son; Usi。 If
these be added to those before mentioned; they complete the
number fifty…four。 Gad and Aser were the sons of Zilpha; who was
the handmaid of Lea。 These had with them; Gad seven … Saphoniah;
Augis; Sunis; Azabon; Aerin; Erocd; Ariel。 Aser had a daughter;
Sarah; and six male children; whose names were Jomne; Isus;
Isoui; Baris; Abar and Melchiel。 If we add these; which are
sixteen; to the fifty…four; the forementioned number '70' is
completed (11) Jacob not being himself included in that number。

5。 When Joseph understood that his father was coming; for Judas
his brother was come before him; and informed him of his
approach; he went out to meet him; and they met together at
Heroopolis。 But Jacob almost fainted away at this unexpected and
great joy; however; Joseph revived him; being yet not himself
able to contain from being affected in the same manner; at the
pleasure he now had; yet was he not wholly overcome with his
passion; as his father was。 After this; he desired Jacob to
travel on slowly; but he himself took five of his brethren with
him; and made haste to the king; to tell him that Jacob and his
family were come; which was a joyful hearing to him。 He also bid
Joseph tell him what sort of life his brethren loved to lead;
that he might give them leave to follow the same; who told him
they were good shepherds; and had been used to follow no other
employment but this alone。 Whereby he provided for them; that
they should not be separated; but live in the same place; and
take care of their father; as also hereby he provided; that they
might be acceptable to the Egyptians; by doing nothing that would
be common to them with the Egyptians; for the Egyptians are
prohibited to meddle with feeding of sheep。 (12)

6。 When Jacob was come to the king; and saluted him; and wished
all prosperity to his government; Pharaoh asked him how old he
now was; upon whose answer; that he was a hundred and thirty
years old; he admired Jacob on account of the length of his life。
And when he had added; that still he had not lived so long as his
forefathers; he gave him leave to live with his children in
Heliopolis; for in that city the king's shepherds had their
pasturage。

7。 However; the famine increased among the Egyptians; and this
heavy judgment grew more oppressive to them; because neither did
the river overflow the ground; for it did not rise to its former
height; nor did God send rain upon it; (13) nor did they indeed
make the least provision for themselves; so ignorant were they
what was to be done; but Joseph sold them corn for their money。
But when their money failed them; they bought corn with their
cattle and their slaves; and if any of them had a small piece of
land; they gave up that to purchase them food; by which means the
king became the owner of all their substance; and they were
removed; some to one place; and some to another; that so the
possession of their country might be firmly assured to the king;
excepting the lands of the priests; for their country continued
still in t

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